"Bottoms-Up" - 3 Skirts in 3 Weeks - Week 2

It’s week #2 of the “Bottoms-Up” skirt series.  Last week I made a gray and black Ally Skirt but this week I have a wintery but colorful plaid skirt that’ll spice up my closet.

This beautiful wool boucle from Fabricland was one I couldn’t pass up.  Clearly, it would make a stunning jacket but I would wear a skirt so much more.  Chanel boucle jackets often have fringe trim so why not add some trim to my skirt as well?

I used McCall’s pattern 7096.  It’s fairly new pattern and has front and back seams that would lend themselves to fringe.  I made view A in a size 12 because I found it ran a little big and it still sits too low on the hip for me. I figure by the time Thanksgiving is over it’ll be just perfect.

I took my time cutting the plaid (for obvious reasons) and cut all pieces in a single layer to make sure I got the match right on.  The best way I found to ensure everything lined up was by using my 24” quilting ruler across all of the pieces.  And after all of that painstaking work lining it up, I used the Accufeed on my machine (essentially a built-in walking foot) to keep those plaids in place.

The fringe may look difficult and time consuming and it may make you think I’m clever, but it’s so simple you won’t think I’m such a genius.  I sewed the front and back seams wrong sides together, pressed them open from the front, and did a long zig-zag stitch down the center seam to stabilize the seam for fringing.  I simply pulled threads (while I was on the phone with my sweet mom) and it was done!  It really is that easy.

This is an unlined skirt pattern and for sure a wool skirt needs to be lined.  I wrote a “How to Line an Unlined Skirt” post to show how to make a pattern for a skirt lining.  The lining was made without the front and back seams to eliminate bulk.  I then attached it to the yoke.  Check it out!

I have a purple skirt in the works for week #3.  Doesn’t every girl need a purple skirt?

​Happy Sewing!
Diane